african american?

Question

why don't some people don't like to be called african american? they liked to be referred to as american. You are of African descent, so i don't get why it's bad to be still called African. My parents are directly from africa. I was born here so I guess I'm african american, right?

Answer 1

Well a lot of American blacks are mixed with European, American Indian, or something else. That's kind of stupid to think that, just because we look black that all of our genetic history comes from Africa. My great grandfather was Irish, my grandfather was half Scottish, my dad is half American Indian, I look black. What am I supposed to call myself? I'm just an American.

Answer 2

I think it should depend on how far back you are willing to go. If my great great great great great great grand father was from Africa, then okay, I'm African American, but I was born in America and so where my parents and some of my grand parents, so I'm Black American. But I do have a grandma from Honduras, but since I don't speak a word of Spanish, I dare not say I'm Hispanic. Anyway, there are people who were born in Africa, and are now American citizens, or whose parents are African. How can I put myself in a category with them when they are ACTUAL African Americans. I think it just causes conflict so the correct term for those whose parents and grandparents are American is American.

Answer 3

Personally, I don't like being called African American. I'm not from Africa, neither are my parents, grandparents, and great grand parents. I feel that if I am to be called African American, then I or my parents should be from Africa. But that's just my opinion.

Answer 4

we're grouped by Ethnicity and/or country of origin-Nationality
Some of us realize that in calling us African or African-American, many white people are excluding us from the heritage of this country. We got here as soon as everybody else did and we built this country into the power it is today. It was Blacks that built the houses, worked the farms, raised the animals, and made cotton King; and we've done more for this country than any group of people. In its infancy, we nursed it to its status of health above all others. We taught this country to walk when it was orphaned. Mother England left America to fend for herself, and we gave her all that she has now. We made her what she is today and we gave the means and financial and economic stability to do for herself all that she has.
My people, Black people, African-Americans; we RAISED this country, we ARE this country, and there is no reason that there need be a discrimination between the "typical" American and those Americans of other nationalities.

any other group as a people is called by its name. she's Chinese, they're Mexican, he's German, we're American. Only the ***** is a different word used for a different people. In France, we are French, in Germany, we are German, if from England, we are English, but here, my ancestors have been here for generations and I am still African-American. seen as only African-American-- as if that makes me inferior, as if I'm viewed as an outsider here. And we are.

What we really want is not to be viewed as outsiders. It's not the names that we are dissatisfied with, (however negatively we react to certain terms), it's the attitudes behind them.

[e-mail], email anytime

Answer 5

You are an American of African descent, just like I'm an American of European descent. We need to embrace our commonalities rather than highlight our differences. Peace be with you...

Answer 6

Because We don't know anyone in our direct family, even as far back as great great grandma who is directly from Africa. I personally don't deny my African heritage, but I've never met anyone in my family from Africa. It's taking on a country of where have no idea or relational proof (aside from slavery) that any of my family members are from there.

Answer 7

I usually find that a lot of whites have a problem with us actually wanting to be called African-American. Many of them feel that we are isolating ourselves from the rest of the country and are unpatriotic..... because of the word Afro-American. Interesting

Answer 8

I believe that if you are straight from Africa, then you are African- American.

My dad is straight from Italy so he's Italian- American.

I guess you could consider yourself African- American, and I guess I can consider myself Italian- American...

haha I hope that helped!!

Answer 9

I'm half-German, one-fourth English, some Scottish and Irish...I was born and bred in the U.S.A...my German ancestory is from generations back. I'm not European-American. I am an American.

Answer 10

I dunno. I don't mind being called Hispanic American. But then I'm not picky about that stuff. *shrug* People have some seriously weird foibles over labels in this day and age and I sometimes just don't understand why they get so freaked out over it.